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N.B. fracking protest raised fears of copycat rallies

Federal officials closely tracked the fallout of an RCMP raid on a First Nations protest against shale-gas exploration in New Brunswick, at one point raising concerns it could spawn another countrywide movement like Idle No More.

A woman kneels in front of a line of police officers while protesting fracking in Elsipogtog, N.B., on Oct. 17, 2013. (Ossie Michelin/APTN National News)

Federal officials closely tracked the fallout of an RCMP raid on a First Nations protest against shale-gas exploration in New Brunswick, at one point raising concerns it could spawn another countrywide movement like Idle No More.

Documents obtained under access-to-information legislation reveal a lengthy email chain last fall monitoring events related to a blockade near Rexton, N.B., about 70 kilometres north of Moncton.

Members of the Elsipogtog First Nation, who were concerned about the environmental impact of shale-gas development, didn't want energy company SWN Resources to do testing work on their traditional territory.

Police officers enforced an injunction on Oct. 17 to end the blockade of a compound where the company stored exploration equipment.

The early-morning raid led to violent clashes between officers and protesters. By the end of the day, six police cars had been torched and 40 people arrested.

'Growing support of protesters'

As the situation unfolded, a government official sent an email reporting "growing support of protesters by first nation (sic) communities and other groups across the country."

"An 'Idle No More' like movement of protests is reportedly being planned starting tomorrow," wrote Alain Paquet, director of operations for Public Safety Canada.

"We will keep you informed through our Situation Reports..."

Those in the email chain included staff within the Privy Council Office, the central bureaucracy which serves the prime minister and cabinet.

The Government Operations Centre, an arm of Public Safety Canada, emailed out daily reports detailing planned protests across the country.

On its website, the centre says it provides an "all-hazards integrated federal emergency response to events."

A notice emailed later on Oct. 17 gave a rundown of planned protests and whether they posed a threat of violence.

"Other than the events at Rexton, N.B., so far calls are for peaceful action," the notice said.

"Most of the protest activity to date under the Idle No More banner or related environmental or First Nations issues activities have been peaceful."

Monitoring social media

The daily updates were compiled using media reports and information from the RCMP. But much of the information was derived by monitoring social media postings from the protesters themselves.

One update noted that the "creators of Idle No More in Lethbridge, AB, said via Twitter that they wasted no time in getting a group together to march down the city's main drag Thursday afternoon."

It also noted reports of "small demonstrations in New York City and Washington, D.C. outside the Canadian missions," as well as in Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Another document outlined the "key messages" for the RCMP when fielding questions about its handling of the New Brunswick blockade, which protesters argued had been heavy-handed.

"Our members demonstrated incredible professionalism as they worked to resolve the situation," one bullet point in the document said.

"Some in the crowd threw rocks and bottles at them and sprayed them with bear spray. Setting police cars on fire created a dangerous situation for all present and at that point our members were forced to physically confront some in the crowd who refused to obey the law."

By Sunday, Oct. 20, three days after the arrests, a government update said "the number of protests continues to decline."

"Less than five are planned for today according to the Idle No More website with one protest planned for Saint John, New Brunswick on Monday," the email said.

'Misunderstanding First Nations'

Susan Levi-Peters, one of the protesters and a former chief, said the emails reflect how Ottawa is more focused on trying to control aboriginal people rather come up with solutions.

"Canada has to have a better relationship with First Nations people," said Levi-Peters, who ran for the NDP in 2011.

"I think Ottawa is misunderstanding First Nations people. And they're getting more educated. I think Ottawa is in a shock because they don't know how to treat them anymore."

The shale-gas protests died down after Texas-based SWN Resources wrapped up its exploration work and left the province in December.

Last month, two men involved in the events of Oct. 17 were sentenced to 15 months in jail.

Germain Breau, a 21-year-old of the Elsipogtog First Nation, was found guilty of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and four counts of pointing a firearm.

Aaron Francis, a 20-year-old of the Eskasoni First Nation, was convicted of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Both men were also given two years probation following their jail time.

An email to Public Safety Canada asking whether it is standard procedure to closely track social media, media and RCMP reports drew the following response: "The GOC provides strategic-level coordination on behalf of the Government of Canada in response to an emerging or occurring event affecting the national interest."